President's Biography

Dr. Lonnie L. Howard began his tenure as President of Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) on Sept. 16, 2013. In his first year, he established three college strategic priorities, initiated the expansion of online learning, and revised the college's leadership structure to facilitate innovation. In addition, CPTC is the first two-year college in Pierce County to offer a bachelor's of applied science degree.

With more than 20 years of tier-1 Research University, Community College, and Technical College experience, Dr. Howard has a broad background in workforce development, academic affairs and student services. His responsibilities have included: faculty, department chair, academic researcher, educational consultant, associate vice president, interim vice president, and executive director of university studies. Prior to this, Dr. Howard once worked as a janitor, eventually progressing to mid-level positions in business and industry. He also served as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.

As the son of a sharecropper, Dr. Howard believes in the best of the American Dream (with hard work, integrity and education anyone can achieve success). He has earned an AAS, AGS, B.S., M.S., and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas - Community College Leadership Program (CCLP). He has also attended the Sloan-C Institute for emerging online leaders at Penn State University.

Dr. Howard enjoys being active in the local community as a proud member of the Lakewood Rotary Club and board member of Lakewood's Promise, to name a few. He has been recognized for public service and is devoted to helping others. Most notably, as a single-parent, he adopted a 2-year old toddler who had been abandoned. His son is now a 22-year old graduate student at the University of Washington, majoring in English.